Wireless protocol converter

ABSTRACT

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for interfacing between a broadband wireless communication system and a Local Area Network (LAN) system are disclosed herein. For instance, the method can include converting first wireless data formatted according to a broadband communication protocol to a LAN protocol to generate LAN-formatted data. The method can also include converting second wireless data formatted to the LAN protocol to the broadband communication protocol to generate broadband-formatted data. Further, the method can include transmitting the LAN-formatted data to one or more first devices and the broadband-formatted data to one or more second devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/424,504, filed on Mar. 20, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.8,285,277, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/164,449, filed on Jun. 20, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,195,149, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/936,821, filedon Sep. 9, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,966,012, all of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates generally to wireless data communicationand, more particularly, to broadband wireless data communication.

2. Related Art

There is an increasing demand for broadband wireless communications,such as wireless internet access, which service providers are attemptingto provide.

Cellular telephone companies are advertising future availability ofbroadband wireless internet access. According to the advertising, userswill be able to connect to the internet at ever increasing speeds usingcellular telephone systems.

Conventional cellular telephone systems do not provide uniform indoor oroutdoor coverage. For example, a cellular telephone may work well in onepart of a building but not in another part of the building or in onepart of a city, but not the other.

Thus, it is expected that broadband wireless technology, such ascellular broadband wireless technology, will suffer from at least thesame and most likely more of the location limitations as conventionalcellular telephone technology. In fact, for a number of reasons, it isexpected that cellular broadband wireless technology will suffer evengreater location limitations due to factors such as increased bandwidthand additional users.

For example, broadband wireless communication will require transmissionsat higher bandwidths to extend the available data rates. The higher thebandwidth, the more signal to noise ratio will be required to accuratelytransmit and receive the information. Given that all other factorsremain the same, the distance and reliability will be reduced as thebandwidth increases. In addition, other cell phone frequency bands arebeing considered, at even higher frequencies. Cell phone systemsdeploying higher frequency technology will have increased distance andreliability problems due to increased directionally and free space loss.

In many locations, the current coverage area is unacceptable for lowspeed voice applications. Higher bandwidth and higher frequency wirelesssignals will reduce the current coverage area even more. As a result, insome environments and locations, reception of broadband wirelesscommunications is expected to be poor or non-existent. In other words,broadband wireless communications, such as planned internet accessthrough cellular telephone systems, will not provide adequate coveragein many locations and situations.

What is needed, therefore, is a method and system for extending thecoverage area for broadband wireless communications, such as, but notlimited to, planned internet access through cellular telephone systems.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods andapparatuses for extending the coverage area for broadband wirelesscommunications such as planned internet access through cellulartelephone systems. An embodiment of the present invention includes amethod with the following steps: converting first wireless dataformatted according to a broadband communication protocol to a localarea network (LAN) protocol to generate LAN-formatted data; convertingsecond wireless data formatted according to the LAN protocol to thebroadband communication protocol to generate broadband-formatted data;and, transmitting the LAN-formatted data to one or more first devicesand the broadband-formatted data to one or more second devices.

Another embodiment includes an apparatus. The apparatus includes aprotocol conversion module and a repeater station. The protocolconversion module is configured to: convert first wireless dataformatted according to a broadband communication protocol to a localarea network (LAN) protocol to generate LAN-formatted data; and, convertsecond wireless data formatted according to the LAN protocol to thebroadband communication protocol to generate broadband-formatted data.The repeater stations is configured to transmit the LAN-formatted datato one or more first devices and the broadband-formatted data to one ormore second devices.

Further, another embodiment of the present invention includes systemwith a local area network (LAN) and a protocol converter. The protocolconverter includes a protocol conversion module and a repeater station.The protocol conversion module is configured to: convert first wirelessdata formatted according to a broadband communication protocol to a LANprotocol to generate LAN-formatted data; and, convert second wirelessdata formatted according to the LAN protocol to the broadbandcommunication protocol to generate broadband-formatted data.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification and drawingsor may be learned by practice of the invention. It is to be understoodthat both the foregoing summary and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of theinvention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein generally like reference numbers indicate identical orfunctionally similar elements. Also generally, the leftmost digit(s) ofthe reference numbers identify the drawings in which the associatedelements are first introduced.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of a wireless LAN communicationenvironment.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary illustration of broadband wireless communicationenvironment.

FIG. 3 is a process flowchart for converting from a broadband wirelessprotocol to a wireless LAN protocol.

FIG. 4 is a process flowchart for bi-directionally converting between abroadband wireless protocol and a wireless LAN protocol.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Introduction

The present invention is directed to methods and systems for extendingthe coverage area of broadband wireless communications, such as internetaccess through cellular telephone systems.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example local area network (“LAN”)system 100. The LAN system 100 includes an access point (“AP”) 102, suchas a wired and/or wireless router. The AP 102 is connected via physicalconnection 104 to an internet service provider (“ISP”) 116. The physicalconnection 104 can be, for example, a hardwired broadband connection ora wireless broadband connection. The internet service provider (“ISP”)116 is connected to the internet 106 through a connection 118.

The AP 102 interfaces between the ISP 116 and one or more devices 112.The AP 102 optionally includes a wireless router and an antenna 108. Inthis embodiment, the AP 102 transmits and receives an electromagneticwave 110 to communicate data with one or more of the devices 112, suchas computers or other data processing devices with wireless LANcapability. Alternatively, or additionally, the AP 102 includes aphysical connection 114 to one or more of the devices 112.

Cellular telephone companies are attempting to design broadband wirelesssystems that will communicate wirelessly between the ISP 116 and devices112, thus eliminating the need for physical connection 104 and/or AP102.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a broadband wireless system 200. Thebroadband wireless system 200 includes the ISP 116 and System 100 asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 1.

In the example of FIG. 2, the ISP 116 is coupled to a transceiverapparatus or tower 206, such as a conventional cellular telephonetransceiver tower. The cellular telephone transceiver tower 206 providesa broadband wireless communication link 210 in addition to wirelessvoice services and to a variety of wireless devices.

For example, the transceiver tower 206 interfaces with a wireless device214 (e.g., a laptop computer) via broadband wireless communicationschannel 210B. The transceiver tower 206 provides broadband wirelessservice (e.g., internet access) to the wireless device 214.

The wireless communication channel 210B has, for example, a cellulartelephone protocol. Thus, the wireless device 214 need to contain, or bemodified to include a communication device, such as a PCMCIA card orinternal circuit card, plus associated software, to communicate with thetransceiver tower 206 via wireless communication channel 210B. To becommercially effective, many wireless devices 214 will need to beequipped with additional hardware and/or software to be compatible withthe cell phone network

There are locations where the wireless device 214 does not effectivelycommunicate with transceiver tower 206. For example, the electromagneticwave of broadband wireless communications link 210 may not for whateverreason (obstructions, multi-path, increased bandwidth, etc.) reach alldesired coverage areas. As a result, in some environments and locations,wireless communications is poor or non-existent due to poor propagation.

In the example of FIG. 2, the transceiver tower 206 also communicateswith a cellular telephone 212 via communication channel 210A. Thecommunication channel 210A includes conventional cellular telephoneservice. Alternatively, or additionally, the communication channel 210Aincludes broadband wireless service (e.g., internet access). Thecommunication channel 210A potentially suffers from the same drawbacksthat affect communication channel 210B.

II. Repeater Station

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the wireless system 200includes a repeater station 226. The repeater station 226 is positionedto effectively communicate with the transceiver tower 206 through awireless communication channel 210C. The repeater station 226 interfacesbetween the transceiver tower 206 and one or more devices 222.

The repeater station 226 communicates with the one or more devices 222,or a portion thereof, via wireless communication link 230.Alternatively, or additionally, the repeater station 226 communicateswith the one or more devices 222, or a portion thereof, via a physicallink 228, which can be a wire, optic fiber, infra-red, and/or any othertype of physical link.

As described below with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4, the repeater station226 is implemented to receive information from the transceiver tower206, and/or to transmit the information to the one or more devices 222.

Based on the description herein, one skilled in the relevant art(s) willunderstand that the repeater station 226 can be implemented in a varietyof ways.

III. Protocol Conversion

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the repeater station226 includes a protocol converter 220 that converts between a firstprotocol associated with the broadband wireless communication 210C, andone or more additional protocols associated with the one or more devices222, or a portion thereof.

For example, and without limitation, the first protocol of thecommunication channel 210C includes a cellular telephone protocol and atleast one of the devices 222 operate with a second protocol, such as aLAN protocol. In this embodiment, the protocol converter 220 convertsbetween the cellular telephone protocol and the LAN protocol. ExampleLAN protocols are described below.

The protocol converter 220 permits the one or more devices 222 toutilize conventional LAN hardware, software, and/or firmware. Thus,where a device 222 includes pre-existing LAN capabilities, no specialupgrades are required to the device 222. The invention is not limited,however, to existing LAN hardware, software, and/or firmware. Based onthe description herein, one skilled in the relevant art(s) willunderstand that the protocol converter can be implemented to interfacewith conventional and/or future developed protocols.

As noted above, aspects of the invention can be implemented forunidirectional or bi-directional operation. FIG. 3 is an example processflowchart 300 for converting from a first protocol to a second protocol,in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Flowchart 300 isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 2. The invention is not, however,limited to the example of FIG. 2. Based on the description herein, oneskilled in the relevant art(s) will understand that the invention can beimplemented with other systems.

The flowchart 300 is now described for converting from a protocolassociated with broadband wireless communication channel 210C, to asecond protocol, such as a LAN protocol, associated with the one or moredevices 222.

The process begins at step 302, which includes receiving a broadbandwireless communication having a first protocol. In the example of FIG.2, the repeater station 226 receives information over communicationchannel 210C from the transceiver tower 206. The information oncommunication channel 210C is formatted according to, for example, acellular telephone protocol.

Step 304 includes converting the received broadband wirelesscommunication from the first protocol to a second protocol. In FIG. 2,the protocol converter 220 converts information in communication channel210C from the cellular telephone protocol to a LAN protocol. The LANprotocol can be, for example, a protocol in accordance with IEEEStandard 802.11 et sequens. IEEE Standard 802.11 is available, forexample, at: <http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/11/>.

Step 306 includes transmitting the protocol-converted communication to adevice via wireless or wired means. In FIG. 2, the repeater station 226transmits protocol-converted communication 230 to the device 222.

Alternatively, or additionally, steps 302, 304, and 306 are implementedto communicate from one or more of the devices 222 to the tower 206.

FIG. 4 is an example process flowchart 400 for bi-directional protocolconversion, in accordance with the aspects of the invention. Flowchart400 is described below with reference to FIG. 2. The invention is not,however, limited to the example of FIG. 2. Based on the descriptionherein, one skilled in the relevant art(s) will understand that theinvention can be implemented with other systems.

The process flowchart 400 begins with steps 302, 304, and 306,substantially as described above with respect to FIG. 3.

The process flowchart 400 further includes step 402, which includesreceiving a broadband communication formatted according to the secondprotocol, from a device. In the example of FIG. 2, the repeater station226 receives communication 230 from the device 222. Alternatively, oradditionally, the repeater station 226 receives a communication viaphysical link 228. The received communication is formatted according toa protocol associated with the device 222 (i.e., the second protocol,e.g., a LAN protocol).

Step 404 includes converting the received communication from the secondprotocol to the first protocol. In the example of FIG. 2, the protocolconverter 226 converts communication 230 from the LAN protocol to thecellular telephone protocol.

Step 406 includes transmitting the protocol-converted communication. InFIG. 2, the repeater station 226 transmits protocol-convertedinformation in communication channel 210C to the transceiver tower 206.

Steps 302, 304, and 306 are optionally independent of steps 402, 404,and 406. Alternatively, steps 302, 304, and 306 are optionally dependentof steps 402, 404, and 406, and/or vice versa. For example, steps 302,304, and 306 are optionally performed in response to steps 402, 404, and406. Alternatively, or additionally, steps 402, 404, and 406 areoptionally performed in response to steps 302, 304, and 306.

IV. Example Implementations

Aspects of the invention can be implemented in a variety ofapplications.

A. Broadband Wireless Services

The broadband wireless communication channel 210C (FIG. 2) can includeone or more of a variety of types of wireless communication. Forexample, and without limitation, the wireless communication channel 210Ccan carry a cellular communication, such as a cellular telephonecommunication, and/or cellular wireless internet service. Alternatively,or additionally, the wireless communication channel 210C can carry oneor more of a wide area network (“WAN”) communication, such as a wirelesscommunication from an IEEE 802.16 tower or device, and/or a broadbandsatellite communication.

The invention is not, however, limited to the examples herein. Based onthe description herein, one skilled in the relevant art(s) willunderstand that the broadband wireless communication channel 210C cancarry one or more of a variety of other types of broadband wirelesscommunications.

Similarly, the broadband wireless communication link 230, and/or acommunication on physical link 228, optionally includes one or more of avariety of types of broadband communications, including, withoutlimitation, LAN communication. As described above, the LAN protocol canbe, for example, a protocol in accordance with IEEE Standard 802.11.Additional optional protocols are described below.

The invention is not, however, limited to the examples herein. Based onthe description herein, one skilled in the relevant art(s) willunderstand that the broadband wireless communication 230 and/or acommunication on physical link 228, can include one or more of a varietyof other types of broadband wireless communication.

B. Physical Locations

1. Locations for the Repeater Station and Protocol Converter

The repeater station 226 (FIG. 2) is positioned at a location thatreceives adequate signal strength with respect to broadband wirelesscommunication channel 210C. The optional protocol converter 220 isincorporated within or coupled to the repeater station 226. The couplingcan be physical and/or wireless.

The repeater station 226 and/or the protocol converter 220 areoptionally positioned in a fixed location. For example, and withoutlimitation, the repeater station 226 and the protocol converter 220 arepositioned on or within a building, train station, subway, oil rig,church, prison, lamp post, bus shelter, school, office building, house,monument, telephone pole, tower, hotel, crane, warehouse, hanger,terminal, drydock, dam, jetway, bridge, dock, lock, marina, emergencyservices facility, police station, fire station, central office,equipment shelter, observation tower, power plant, factory, silo,research facility, shopping center, shopping mall, cellularcommunication system tower, traffic signal, fire escape, scaffold,bridge, convention center, sports arena, stadium, stage, and/or otherman-made structure.

The repeater station 226 and/or the protocol converter 220 areoptionally positioned on a fixed installation on a naturally-occurringstructure or terrain feature. The protocol converter 220 is optionallydesigned to be wall-mountable, rack-mountable, and/or surface-mountable.

Alternatively or additionally, the repeater station 226 and/or theprotocol converter 220 are optionally positioned on a mobile platform.In this way, the one or more devices 222 are can be moved around withina range of the mobile platform. For example, and without limitation, therepeater station 226 and/or the protocol converter 220 are positioned onor within a bus, taxi, car, truck, tractor, van, multi-purpose vehicle,sport utility vehicle, police vehicle, fire truck, ambulance, train car,locomotive, airplane, helicopter, blimp, hovercraft, boat, ship, barge,tugboat, construction machinery, naval vessel, motorcycle, subway car,pullman, trolley, lawnmower, race car, all-terrain vehicle, golf cart,forklift, segway, scooter, bicycle, pedal car, rickshaw, sled,tractor-trailer, delivery truck, trailer, submarine, raft, pushcart,and/or other transportation apparatus.

2. Locations for the Devices

The one or more devices 222 are positioned in a location that receivesadequate signal strength with respect to broadband wirelesscommunication 224 and/or a communication on physical link 228. The oneor more devices 222 are mobile within a range of the repeater station226.

C. Device Types

The one or more devices 222 can include a variety of types of devices,such as, without limitation, a desk-top computer, lap-top computer,printer, security system, thermostat, household appliance, industrialappliance, watercraft, airplane, industrial machinery, and/or electroniccontrol system, such as an electronic control system for an automobile.The invention is not limited to these examples, but includes any dataprocessing device or communication.

D. Controls, Settings, and Indicators

The repeater station 226 and/or the protocol converter 220 optionallyinclude one or more controllable settings. The settings can includesettings that are wholly controlled by a manufacturer and/or settingsthat are user selectable.

The settings can include, for example, protocol selection settings thatallow a manufacturer and/or user to select one or more protocols thatare compatible with the protocol of the broadband wireless transmission210C. The protocol converter 220 is also optionally factory set tocommunicate using a protocol that is compatible with the desiredwireless LAN protocol. Alternatively, or additionally, the protocol ofthe broadband wireless transmission 210 is user-selectable.Alternatively, or additionally, the wireless LAN protocol isuser-selectable. Alternatively, or additionally, the protocol converter220 automatically senses and selects the broadband wireless protocoland/or the wireless LAN protocol.

Device addresses, subscriber numbers, phone numbers, and other deviceidentifiers set in hardware and/or software of the protocol converter220 are factory pre-set, user-selectable, and/or automatically sensedand set.

Software settings are optionally effected remotely by physical and/orwireless connection. Alternatively, or additionally, software settingsare optionally effected locally.

Other optional controllable features include varying the output power ofthe repeater station 226 to maintain an optimal signal between theprotocol converter 220 and devices 220 and/or transceiver tower 206.Power adjustment is effected manually and/or automatically.

The protocol converter 220 optionally provides multiple broadbandwireless communications channel 210C to provide, for example, diverseand/or redundant service.

The protocol converter 220 optionally provides multiple wireless LANconnections 230.

The protocol converter 220 optionally includes one or more antennas tocommunicate with the one or more devices 220 and/or the transceivertower 206. In an embodiment, the protocol converter 220 includes asingle antenna to communicate with the one or more devices 220 and thetransceiver tower 206. Alternatively, or additionally, the protocolconverter 220 includes at least one antenna to communicate with the oneor more devices 220, and at least one other antenna to communicate withthe transceiver tower 206.

The protocol converter 220 optionally includes at least one of: anintegral antenna; an external antenna; a removable antenna; and a fixedantenna; to communicate with the one or more devices 220 and/or thetransceiver tower 206.

The repeater station 226 and/or the protocol converter 220 optionallyinclude a data router, which includes one or more receptacles or portsfor a wired LAN.

The repeater station 226 and/or the protocol converter 220 optionallyinclude one or more of a DSL modem, cable modem, ISDN modem, and/ordial-up modem.

The repeater station 226 and/or the protocol converter 220 optionallyinclude one or more password protection features.

The repeater station 226, the protocol converter 220, and or the device222 optionally include a hardwired or cordless telephone system.

The repeater station 226, the protocol converter 220, and or the device222 optionally include one or more audio inputs for voice activatedconnections. The repeater station 226, the protocol converter 220, andor the device 222 optionally include one or more audio outputs forproviding information or requests to a user.

The repeater station 226 and/or the protocol converter 220 areoptionally powered by one or more of a variety of power sourcesincluding AC, DC, and/or battery power sources.

The repeater station 226, the protocol converter 220, and or the device222 optionally include one or more of a variety of visual and/or audibleindicators, such as status indicators. Status indicators can include,without limitation, link, data rate, RF transmit power, RF signalstrength, supply power, and/or protocol type.

The repeater station 226, optionally includes Voice over InternetProtocol (VoIP) capability. A VoIP enabled device would be able tocommunicate with cell tower 206 (FIG. 2), thereby enablingbi-directional VoIP to cell phone voice communications.

The repeater station 226, optionally includes Quality of Service (QoS)capability. The QoS protocol could give higher priority to voiceinformation, thereby enabling seamless voice and data communications ona network.

D. Example Environments

The repeater station 226 and/or the protocol converter 220 can beimplemented in one or more of a variety of environments. For example,and without limitation, repeater station 226 and/or the protocolconverter 220 can be implemented as part of a system associated with oneor more of the following, alone and/or in combination with one another:

local area networks;

remote monitoring;

security systems, including home security systems and/or industrialsecurity systems;

remote data logging;

monitoring of utility meters, such as oil or gas meters, residentialand/or commercial;

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA);

Monitoring and/or control of environmental conditions;

remote telemetry;

factory automation;

point-of-sale monitoring;

wireless inventory control;

mobile sales;

field service;

meter reading;

warehousing applications;

portable data terminals;

audio/visual transmissions;

radio transmissions;

television transmissions;

home automation;

security monitoring;

medical monitoring;

home and/or industrial heating and/or air-conditioning controls; and/or

packet data radio.

Network Standards

The wireless communications 230, 210A, 210B, 210C, and/or 110; and/orcommunications over physical link 228 and/or 114; are optionallyimplemented in accordance with, and/or are in conformance with, one ormore of the following standards:

IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.16a,IEEE 802.16e, IEEE 802.20, IEEE 802.15, T1, T3, DS1, DS3, ethernet,HiperMAN, HiperAccess, WirelessMAN, HiperLAN, HiperLAN2, HiperLink,internet protocol, transmission control protocol, atm, ppp, ipx,appletalk, windows nt, systems network architecture, decnet, netware,ipx, spx, netbios, Ethernet, FDDI, PPP, Token-Ring, IEEE 802.11,Classical IP over ATM, 3GPP2 A11, 802.11 MGT, 802.11 Radiotap, AAL1,AAL3_(—)4, AARP, ACAP, ACSE, AFP, AFS (RX), AH, AIM, AIM Administration,AIM Advertisements, AIM BOS, AIM Buddylist, AIM Chat, AIM ChatNav, AIMDirectory, AIM Generic, AIM ICQ, AIM Invitation, AIM Location, AIMMessaging, AIM OFT, AIM Popup, AIM SSI, AIM Signon, AIM Stats, AIMTranslate, AIM User Lookup, AJP13, ALCAP, ANS, ANSI BSMAP, ANSI DTAP,ANSI IS-637-A Teleservice, ANSI IS-637-A Transport, ANSI IS-683-A (OTA(Mobile)), ANSI IS-801 (Location Services (PLD)), ANSI MAP, AODV,ARCNET, ARP/RARP, ASAP, ASF, ASP, ATM, ATM LANE, ATP, ATSVC, AVSWLANCAP, Auto-RP, BACapp, BACnet, BEEP, BER, BFD Control, BGP, BICC,BOFL, BOOTP/DHCP, BOOTPARAMS, BOSSVR, BROWSER, BSSAP, BSSGP, BUDB, BUTC,BVLC, Boardwalk, CAST, CCSDS, CDP, CDS_CLERK, CFLOW, CGMP, CHDLC, CLDAP,CLEARCASE, CLNP, CLTP, CONV, COPS, COTP, CPFI, CPHA, CUPS, CoSine, DCCP,DCERPC, DCE_DFS, DDP, DDTP, DEC_STP, DFS, DHCPv6, DISTCC, DLSw, DNS,DNSSERVER, DRSUAPI, DSI, DTSPROVIDER, DTSSTIME_REQ, DVMRP, Data,Diameter, E.164, EAP, EAPOL, ECHO, EDONKEY, EFSRPC, EIGRP, ENC, ENIP,EPM, EPM4, ESIS, ESP, ETHERIP, Ethernet, FC, FC ELS, FC FZS, FC-FCS,FC-SB3, FC-SP, FC-SWILS, FC-dNS, FCIP, FCP, FC_CT, FDDI, FIX, FLDB, FR,FTAM, FTP, FTP-DATA, FTSERVER, FW-1, Frame, GIF image, GIOP, GMRP,GNUTELLA, GPRS NS, GPRS-LLC, GRE, GSM BSSMAP, GSM DTAP, GSM MAP, GSM RP,GSM SMS, GSM SMS UD, GSS-API, GTP, GVRP, H.261, H.263, H1, H225, H245,H4501, HCLNFSD, HPEXT, HSRP, HTTP, HyperSCSI, IAPP, IB, ICAP, ICL_RPC,ICMP, ICMPv6, ICP, ICQ, IGAP, IGMP, IGRP, ILMI, IMAP, INITSHUTDOWN, IP,IP/IEEE1394, IPComp, IPDC, IPFC, IPMI, IPP, IPVS, IPX, IPX MSG, IPX RIP,IPX SAP, IPX WAN, IPv6, IRC, ISAKMP, ISDN, ISIS, ISL, ISMP, ISUP, IUA,Inter-Asterisk eXchange v2, JFIF (JPEG) image, Jabber, KADM5, KLM, KRB5,KRB5RPC, Kpasswd, L2TP, LACP, LANMAN, LAPB, LAPBETHER, LAPD, LDAP, LDP,LLAP, LLC, LMI, LMP, LPD, LSA, LSA_DS, LWAPP, LWAPP-CNTL, LWAPP-L3,Laplink, Line-based text data, Lucent/Ascend, M2PA, M2TP, M2UA, M3UA,MAPI, MDS Header, MGMT, MIME multipart, MIPv6, MMSE, MOUNT, MPEG1, MPLS,MPLS Echo, MQ, MQ PCF, MRDISC, MS Proxy, MSDP, MSNIP, MSNMS, MTP2, MTP3,MTP3MG, Media, Messenger, Mobile IP, Modhus/TCP, MySQL, NBDS, NBNS, NBP,NBSS, NCP, NDMP, NDPS, NETLOGON, NFS, NFSACL, NFSAUTH, NIS+, NIS+ CB,NLM, NLSP, NMS, NMPI, NNTP, NSPI, NTLMSSP, NTP, NW_SERIAL, NetBIOS,Null, OAM AAL, OLSR, OSPF, OXID, PCNFSD, PER, PFLOG, PFLOG-OLD, PGM,PIM, POP, POSTGRESQL, PPP, PPP BACP, PPP BAP, PPP CBCP, PPP CCP, PPPCDPCP, PPP CHAP, PPP Comp, PPP IPCP, PPP IPV6CP, PPP LCP, PPP MP, PPPMPLSCP, PPP OSICP, PPP PAP, PPP PPPMux, PPP PPPMuxCP, PPP VJ, PPPoED,PPPoES, PPTP, PRES, PTP, Portman, Prism, Q.2931, Q.931, Q.933, QLLC,QUAKE, QUAKE2, QUAKE3, QUAKEWORLD, RADIUS, RANAP, REMACT, REP_PROC, RIP,RIPng, RMCP, RMI, RMP, RPC, RPC_BROWSER, RPC_NETLOGON, RPL, RQUOTA, RSH,RSTAT, RSVP, RSYNC, RS_ACCT, RS_ATTR, RS_BIND, RS_PGO, RS_PLCY,RS_REPADM, RS_REPLIST, RS_UNIX, RTCP, RTMP, RTP, RTP Event, RTPS, RTSP,RWALL, RX, Raw, Raw_SIP, Rlogin, SADMIND, SAMR, SAP, SCCP, SCCPMG, SCSI,SCTP, SDLC, SDP, SEBEK, SECIDMAP, SES, SGI MOUNT, SIP, SIPFRAG, SKINNY,SLARP, SLL, SMB, SMB Mailslot, SMB Pipe, SMPP, SMTP, SMUX, SNA, SNA XID,SNAETH, SNDCP, SNMP, SONMP, SPNEGO-KRB5, SPOOLSS, SPRAY, SPX, SRVLOC,SRVSVC, SSCOP, SSH, SSL, STAT, STAT-CB, STP, STUN, SUA, SVCCTL,Serialization, SliMP3, Socks, SoulSeek, Spnego, Symantec, Syslog, T38,TACACS, TACACS+, TAPI, TCAP, TCP, TDS, TEI_MANAGEMENT, TELNET, TEREDO,TFTP, TIME, TKN4Int, TNS, TPCP, TPKT, TR MAC, TRKSVR, TSP, TUXEDO, TZSP,Token-Ring, UBIKDISK, UBIKVOTE, UCP, UDP, UDPENCAP, V.120, VLAN, VRRP,VTP, Vines ARP, Vines Echo, Vines FRP, Vines ICP, Vines IP, Vines IPC,Vines LLC, Vines RTP, Vines SPP, WAP SIR, WBXML, WCCP, WCP, WHDLC, WHO,WINREG, WKSSVC, WSP, WTLS, WTP, X.25, X.29, X11, XDMCP, XOT, XYPLEX,YHOO, YMSG, YPBIND, YPPASSWD, YPSERV, YPXFR, ZEBRA, ZIP, cds_solicit,cprpc_server, dce_update, dicom, iSCSI, iSNS, 11b, message/http,rdaclif, roverride, rpriv, rs_attr_schema, rs_misc, rs_prop_acct,rs_prop_acl, rs_prop_attr, rs_prop_pgo, rs_prop_plcy, rs_pwd_mgmt,rs_repmgr, rsec_login, and/or sFlow.

The communication channels 210A, 210B, and/or 210C optionally include,and/or are generated according to, and/or are in conformance with,without limitation, one or more of: quadrature amplitude modulation,orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, vector orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing, wideband orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing, frequency division duplex, time division duplex, gaussianminimum shift keying, binary phase shift keying, differential phaseshift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, binary frequency shiftkeying, minimum shift keying, phase shift keying, frequency shiftkeying, direct sequence spread spectrum, pulse code modulation, pulseamplitude modulation, amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, anglemodulation, quadrature multiplexing, single sideband amplitudemodulation, vestigial sideband amplitude modulation, analog modulation,digital modulation, phase modulation, and/or frequency hopped spreadspectrum.

The invention is optionally implemented with one or more of: gsm, cdma,gprs, umts, cdma2000, tdma, cellular, iden, pdc, is-95, is-136, is-54,is-661, amps, des 1800, edge, pcs 1900, gsm 900, gsm 850, namps, sdma,uwc-136, wpcdma, wap, a wide area network protocol, a satellite radioprotocol, and/or wcdma.

The invention may include any combination of the foregoing, although theinvention is not, however, limited to the examples herein.

CONCLUSION

From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description, it will beapparent that various modifications, additions, and other alternativeembodiments are possible without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention. Such modifications and variations are within the scope ofthe present invention as determined by the appended claims wheninterpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly,legally, and equitably entitled.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of specifiedfunctions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functionalbuilding blocks have been defined herein for the convenience of thedescription. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as thespecified functions and relationships thereof are appropriatelyperformed. Such alternate boundaries are within the scope and spirit ofthe claimed invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that thesefunctional building blocks can be implemented by discrete components,application specific integrated circuits, processors executingappropriate software and the like and combinations thereof.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not limitation. Ownership and/or possession ofequipment by an entity is presented herein by way of example only, andnot limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present inventionshould not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the followingclaims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: converting first wirelessdata formatted according to a broadband communication protocol to alocal area network (LAN) protocol to generate LAN-formatted data;converting second wireless data formatted according to the LAN protocolto the broadband communication protocol to generate broadband-formatteddata; and transmitting the LAN-formatted data to one or more firstdevices and the broadband-formatted data to one or more second devices.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the first wireless datacomprises wirelessly receiving the first wireless data over at least oneof a wide area network, a cellular telephone communication network, abroadband satellite communication network, or a combination thereof. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the second wireless datacomprising wirelessly receiving the second wireless data, and whereinthe second wireless data is compliant with IEEE standard 802.11.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the LAN-formatted data tothe one or more first devices comprises transmitting the LAN-formatteddata to at least one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, aprinter, a security system, a thermostat, a household appliance, anindustrial appliance, a watercraft, an airplane, an industrial machine,an electronic control system, or a combination thereof.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the transmitting the broadband-formatted data to theone or more second devices comprises transmitting thebroadband-formatted data to a transceiver tower, a wireless device, or acombination thereof.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmittingthe LAN-formatted data and the broadband-formatted data comprisetransmitting the LAN-formatted data and the broadband-formatted datausing a repeater station positioned in a substantially-fixed position.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the LAN-formatteddata and the broadband-formatted data comprise transmitting theLAN-formatted data and the broadband-formatted data using a repeaterstation positioned on a mobile platform.
 8. An apparatus comprising: aprotocol conversion module configured to: convert first wireless dataformatted according to a broadband communication protocol to a localarea network (LAN) protocol to generate LAN-formatted data; convertsecond wireless data formatted according to the LAN protocol to thebroadband communication protocol to generate broadband-formatted data;and a repeater station configured to transmit the LAN-formatted data toone or more first devices and the broadband-formatted data to one ormore second devices.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the repeaterstation is configured to wirelessly receive the first wireless data overat least one of a wide area network, a cellular telephone communicationnetwork, a broadband satellite communication network, or a combinationthereof.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the repeater station isconfigured to wirelessly receive the second wireless data, and whereinthe second wireless data is compliant with IEEE standard 802.11.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein the repeater station is configured totransmit the LAN-formatted data to at least one of a desktop computer, alaptop computer, a printer, a security system, a thermostat, a householdappliance, an industrial appliance, a watercraft, an airplane, anindustrial machine, an electronic control system, or a combinationthereof.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the repeater station isconfigured to transmit the broadband-formatted data to a transceivertower, a wireless device, or a combination thereof.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the protocol converter and the repeater station arepositioned in a substantially-fixed position.
 14. The apparatus of claim8, wherein the protocol converter and the repeater station arepositioned on a mobile platform.
 15. A system comprising: a local areanetwork (LAN); and a protocol converter comprising: a protocolconversion module configured to: convert first wireless data formattedaccording to a broadband communication protocol to a LAN protocol togenerate LAN-formatted data; convert second wireless data formattedaccording to the LAN protocol to the broadband communication protocol togenerate broadband-formatted data; and a repeater station configured totransmit the LAN-formatted data to one or more first devices and thebroadband-formatted data to one or more second devices.
 16. The systemof claim 15, wherein the repeater station is configured to wirelesslyreceive the first wireless data over at least one of a wide areanetwork, a cellular telephone communication network, a broadbandsatellite communication network, or a combination thereof.
 17. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the repeater station is configured towirelessly receive the second wireless data, and wherein the secondwireless data is compliant with IEEE standard 802.11.
 18. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the protocol converter is positioned in asubstantially-fixed position.
 19. The system of claim 15, wherein theprotocol converter is positioned on a mobile platform.